Freight handling apparatus on vehicles



- Oct. 23,1945. y RTAYLO 2,387,542

FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS ON VEHICL yFiled May 12, 1944 Patentedy Oct. 23, 1945 t UNI-TED OFFICE FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS N VEHICLES- Morris P. Taylor, Stanford"University, Calif.

Application May` 12, 1944Serial No.l 535,388l

8V Claims.

This invention relates to freight handling apparatuson vehicles such as land,` water and air craft. The apparatus is intended to have the advantages of the apparatus described in my United States Letters Patent No.` 2,088,122, of July 27, 1937, and in addition, the invention herein has as ani object the provision of means for more efficiently loading freight carriers, containers or the like,. in various. partsi of` the vehicle being loaded therewith; Another objectof theinvention is the provision of improved safety means for locking the freight handling apparatus in the vehicle that carries the. same whereby the vehicle cannot be accidentally started before such apparatus is se'- cured therein.

Other objects and advantageswill appear in the description and inthe drawing; it being understoodthat the illustration herein andthe description thereof are not to be considered restrictive of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig 1 is a sectional View through the body'of a vehicleshowing the apparatus locked therein against movement. l

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlargedA side view of the locking apparatus with the hoistdevice of Fig. 1. omitted for purpose ofclarity, and said view also diagrammatically shows the connection between; the locking apparatus and the brake system of the vehicle. The. rails and cross frame members are in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the locking apparatus of Fig..2, one corner of which is broken away. The supporting arms and part of the cylinder support are indicated in section.

In detail, the body ofthe vehicle comprises a iloor I and an upstanding frame 2 secured thereto. The frame may comprise a plurality of overhead cross members 3 supported over floor I by pairs of posts 4. Only one pair of such posts and one cross member is shown in Fig. 1, it Vbeing understood that others are in alignment therewith and are duplicates thereof, such structurebeing conventional.

The frame 2 carriesra pair of parallel rail members respectively secured to the upper ends of posts 4 in opposed relation and parallel-with floor I thereby providing a track for the wheels or rollers of a carriage. Each of the members 5 is in the form of a channel strip (Fig. 1) and the `members of said pairu are arranged with their open sides directed laterally and toward each other. Flanges 6 on the free edges of the opposite upper and lower sides of each strip-or membereitv are directed. toward;` each other whereby each strip provides an upper and a lower` channel-like runway forthe-rollers "Il, 8ofY a carriage.

The `upper roller I of each pair thereof rolls against the upper side of each member 5 while the lower roller 8 is supported on the lower side. The flanges 6 retain the rollers against coming out of the members. Each of the rollers l,` 8is rotatably supported on one of the endsof a-shaft 9, there being aV shaft for each roller,` and the oppcsite end of each shafts is secured to the upper end of a depending carriage support I0. There are preferably four'pairs ofA rollers 1, 8. Two of such pairs'are in each of the twomembers. (Fig. 2.) and there is a support I04 for each pair, the said supports at each sidev of the vehicle being respectively connectedby frame elements' I 2.

The opposed supports I0 at opposite sides` of the vehicle are connected by apair ofV rails I3,

which` railsV are each formed to provide' an upwardly opening'channel for apair of .rollers I4 (Fig. 1) of a hoist device I5. A pair of rollers I4 is supported on each rail I3 andthe twcrpairs of such rollers support a hoist device suspended therefrom as fully describedin` detailinmy above Y.

mentioned patent, No. 2,088,122.

The device I5. includes pulleys I6; I'I, the latter being below pulley I6 and suspended therefrom by a portion I8 of airope, cable,.or chain that is arranged to provide a conventional differential pulley hoist. Pulley I6 is carried by rollers I4 while pulley I'I carries aframe I9 having depend ing arms 20 that are adapted toreleasabl'yfengage hooks or'the like, on a portablecarrier 2l. Several rows of such carriersmay beV provided, the carriers of the several rows being provided. with wheels-22that are adapted tolrunrin tracks 23-` on floor I.

The pulleys I6 and I'I are on` the opposite ends of shafts 25, 26 (only one end being shown in Fig. 1) and the ropes I8 therefor are duplicated for eachiset of. pulleys I6, II', it being understood that each set is below each of the rails I3 that support each set of rollers I4. The frame that carriesV arms 23 is preferably rectangular,` andithe arms 26 seen in Fig. lv areduplicatedatthe opposite end of the frame so that the lower ends of such pairs of armswillbe at oppositefendsiof each carrier 2 Il. I

The tracks` I3 may each carry extension arms 2'I at both ends thereof hingedly supported for swinging to -dot-dashpositons (Figi) by any suitable mechanism between'V tracks I3 as generally indicated at 29' in Fig. 1`. Allthis structure relating tothe hoist` device is asshown and; de'- land secured at opposite ends thereof to any suitable side frame members 30 (Fig. 1) may be a pair of overhead cross members 3|, 32 (Fig. 2). The cross member 3| carries a pair of spaced opposed arms 33 depending therefrom and rigidly secured thereto, while cross member 32 carries a similarpair of spaced opposed arms 34. The arms 33, 34 may be at any points along cross members 3|, 32, but they are preferably near a point intermediate the opposite ends of said members.

The locking device for holding the carriage that is on rail members stationary and for holding the hoist device I5 stationary on said carriage includes the arms 33, 34, but the direct connection whereby the desired results are accomplished comprises a locking means pivotally supported on said arms 33, 34.

Y The above mentioned locking means comprises a pairof opposed lever arms 35 pivoted intermediate their ends by horizontal pivot 36 to the lower ends of arms 34 (Figs. 2J 3). The lever ,arms extend between the said lower ends of arms 3,4 and the pivot may be carried at its ends by said latter arms, while a spacer 31 on said pivot s may space and connect said arms at the same time. One of the corresponding end portions of From the foregoing description it will be seen that a ,downward thrust of piston rod 4| will result ,in simultaneously raising the blocks 38, 44 out of their positions between the rollers I4 of each set thereof to dot-dash positions 50, 5 I, thereby freeing the hoist device for movement on rails I3 and at the same time freeing the carriage for movement on rail members 5. But as Vlong as the blocks are in the rails I3 both the hoist device and the carriage will be locked against movement in the vehicle. Upon upward movement of the A piston rod 4| the blocks 36, 44 will be lowered into device and carriage may be a railway car or other vehicle that may be closed and unattended for considerable periods of time during transit, it is arms extend divergently from arms 34 toward and over one of the rails I3 (Fig. 2) and the outer ends 0f said arms 35 carry blocks 38 that are adapted' to fit in said rails between rollers I4 (Fig. l). Thus upon downward movement of the end portions 39 of arms 35 that extend from the sides of arms 34 that are opposite the sides from which the diverging portions extend, the

said blocks will be moved upwardly and out of Arails I3 to free the one set of wheels I4 for move- .ment on said rails.

The said portions 39 of arms 35 extend from arms 34 between arms 33 and past the latter,

terminating in outer ends that are pivotally. se-

pivotally supported at a point intermediate their I respective ends to the lower ends of said arms 33 by pivots 43. These arms extend divergently at one of their ends from the arms 33 toward` and over the other rail I3 that is nearest said latter arms, and the outer ends of arms 42 carry blocks 44 adapted to move into and out of said last mentioned rail and between the rollers I4 of the hoist device that are adapted to be supported'on said rail. Thus provision is made for blocking movement of both sets of rollers I4 that are on each of the rails |3.

The opposite end portions 45 of arms 43, or the portions extending toward arms 34 are a't opposite outer sides of the portions 39 of arms 35 and the said portions 35, 39 are pivotally secured together at a point between arms 33, 34 by pivot 46. The portions 45 may be slotted, as at 41 (Fig. 2) for said pivot, ror the pivot may be secured to portions45 and portions 39 may be slotted, if desired.

obvious that a great deal of damage could result to freight in such vehicle and to the hoist, carriage and vehicle itself, unless the hoist device and carriage were positively locked before the vehicle brakes were released and the vehicle set in motion.

To insure against the above possibility of drainage, the piston rod 4I is carried on a piston 55 that is reciprocable in cylinder 56. This cylinder is pivoted to cross member'3l, as at 51, and an air line 58 communicates with the lower end of the cylinder below piston 55 while a spring 59 above the piston tends to force the latter down when air pressure below the piston is released.

The'air pressure line 58 extends to a manually actuated valve 60, which vvalve has a handle 6I for manually actuating the same from the full line position of Fig. 2 to the dot-dash position 62. An air pressure line 63 communicates between the valve and the conventional brake pipe (not shown) while another air pressurel line 64 communicates between the valve and the auxiliary pressure tank (not shown) that supplies air to the brake mechanism of the vehicle for applying the brakes.v An air outlet to the atmosphere is provided on valve 60 at 65. f

In the drawing the movable valve plug is in a position in which air from the auxiliary cylinder (which always carriesV air under pressure) is in communication with cylinder 56 andthe piston 55 is elevated and is so held by the constant air pressure, whereby blocks 38, 44 are held locked to rails I3 locking the hoist device`|5 and the main carriage against movement.

In order to load or unload the Acar when the latter is positioned for loading or for unloading, the car is opened and the operator swings the valve handle 6I to dot-dash position 62 whereupon the brake line 63 is Vexhausted through the outlet 55, thereby setting the brakes on the ear if `they are not already set, and at the same time exhausting the line 58 to permit spring 59 to force piston rod 4I downwardly for releasing the blocks 38, 44. The hoist device and carriage are now free to move, and the car cannot be started again until the brake line 63 is closed to thereby permit building up pressure in said line. Hence, should the operator close the car and forget to lock the hoist device and carriage by manipulation of valve handle 6I, the car cannot be moved until such manipulation is made. This is an important feature of the invention.

Having described the invention, I claim:

l. In a vehicle having a oor and an upstanding frame secured thereto, an overhead track carried by said frame, a freight hoist device sup- .ported on said track for movement. longitudinally of the latter back and vforth between the ends thereof,` means carried rby said frame for releasably securing said device against such movement, said freight hoist device including a carriage supported on said frame for movementl over said oor in a direction at right angles to said rst mentioned movement.

2. In a vehicle having a oor and an upstanding frame secured thereto and a braking mechanism for holding it stationary, an overhead track carried by said frame, a freight hoist device supported on said track for movement longitudinally of the latter, means operated by the braking mechanism of the vehicle for locking and unlocking said carriage against such movement.

3. In a vehicle having a oor and an upstanding frame secured thereto, an overhead track comprising a pair of parallel spaced rail members carried by said frame, a carriage provided with rollers supported on said rail members for movement of said carriage longitudinally of thelatter, said carriage comprising a pair of parallel rails extending between said rail members, a hoist provided with rollers, supported on said rails for movement of said hoist on said rails transversely of said members, means carried by said frame securing said carriage and said hoist against said movement on said members and on said rails.

4. In a vehicle having a floor and an upstanding frame secured thereto, an overhead track comprising a pair of parallel spaced rail members carried by said frame, a carriage provided with rollers supported on said rail members for movement of said carriage longitudinally of the latter, said carriage comprising a pair of parallel rails extending between said rail members, a hoist provided with rollers supported on said rails for movement of said vhoist on said rails transversely of said members, means operated by the braking mechanism of the vehicle for locking and for unlocking said carriage and said hoist against said movement on said members and on said rails.

5. In a vehicle having a floor and an upstanding frame secured thereto, an overhead track supported at two opposite sides of said vehicle on said frame for movably supporting a carriage extending across said vehicle between said sides,

a carriage so supported on said track, said carriage including a pair of rails extending transversely of said track and between said sides, a

hoist device supported on said rails for movement longitudinally of the latter, rollers on said hoist device rotatable on said rails for so supporting said device, locking means movable into and out of the path of said rollers for obstructing movement thereof on said rails and for holding said hoist device stationary on said rails, and means for so moving said locking means.

6. In a vehicle having a ioor and an upstanding frame secured thereto, an overhead track supported at two opposite sides of said vehicle on said frame for movably supporting a carriage extending across said vehicle between said sides, a carriage so supported on said track, said carriage including a pair of rails extending transversely of said track and between said sides, a hoist device supported on said rails for movement longitudinally of the latter,` rollers on said hoist device rotatable on said rails for so supporting said device, locking means movable into and out of the path of said rollers for obstructing movement thereof on said rails and for holding said hoist device stationary on said rails, and air pressure actuated means for so moving said locking means including a manually manipulatable valve.

7. In a vehicle having a iioor and an upstanding frame secured thereto, an overhead track supported at two opposite sides of said vehicle on said frame for movably supporting a' carriage extending across said vehicle between said sides, a carriage so supported on said track, said carriage including a pair of rails extending transversely of said track and between said sides, a hoist device supported on said rails for movement longitudinally of the latter, rollers on said hoist device rotatable on said rails for so supporting said device, locking means movable into and out of engagement with said rails for locking said carriage against said movement thereof, and means for so moving said locking means.

8. In a vehicle having a oor and an upstanding frame secured thereto, an overhead track supported at two opposite sides of said vehicle on said frame for movably supporting a* carriage eX- tending across said vehicle between said sides, a carriage so supported on said track, said carriage including a pair of rails extending transversely of said track and between said sides, a hoist device supported on said rails for movement longitudinally of the latter, lrollers on said hoist device rotatable on said rails for so supporting said device, a pair of arms supported on said frame for swinging into and out of engagement with said rails for holding said carriage against movement on said tracks, means for simultaneously so swinging said arms including means operated by the braking mechanism of the vehicle.

' MORRIS P. TAYLOR. 

